Arlene Arnold denied bail in fatal pint bottle stabbing of common-law husband Clive Hendricks; Tells court she was punched several times to the head before attack

By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City mother of six who claims she was being beaten by her common-law husband before she fatally wounded him with a broken pint bottle will have to seek bail from the High Court after a Senior Magistrate declined to release her on Tuesday.

Arlene Tanice Arnold, 50, is charged with manslaughter in the death of her common-law husband, 45-year-old Jeremy Gerald “Clive Tambran” Hendricks.

At Tuesday afternoon’s bail hearing, the Senior Magistrate said she had reviewed relevant precedents and found that bail had been granted at the Magistrate’s Court level in cases involving manslaughter by negligence, but not simply manslaughter. Arnold was therefore advised that her bail application would have to be made before the High Court.

She remains remanded at the Belize Central Prison until November 10 unless she is granted bail by the High Court.

Arnold was arraigned Monday, when no plea was taken. Her attorney, Ronell Gonzalez, told the court that she is the mother of six children, including two minors who depend on her, and argued that Hendricks’ death occurred during a domestic dispute in which Arnold had allegedly been subjected to violence.

The defence claims Hendricks had abused Arnold previously and that two reports had been made against him, with another matter involving the couple reportedly before the Family Court. Gonzalez further alleged that Hendricks punched Arnold around the head and temple during Saturday morning’s confrontation and that she reacted while fearing for her safety.

Police, however, offered a somewhat different account at Monday’s press briefing. ASP Stacy Smith said the Gender-Based Violence Response and Investigative Unit had advised investigators that there was no history of reported domestic violence cases between Arnold and Hendricks. Smith added, however, that people living in the area told police that physical altercations between the couple appeared to have been relatively common.

The fatal incident occurred at about 3:33 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, near the corner of New Road and Pickstock Street.

Police responding to the area found Hendricks lying in the street and bleeding profusely from his right arm. He was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead at 4:44 a.m. Investigators believe the wound to his arm may have severed a major artery.

Police allege that Hendricks and Arnold had been involved in a physical altercation when Arnold wounded him once in the right tricep with a broken pint bottle.

Arnold was later located at an address in the Holy Emmanuel area after her daughter reportedly contacted police. She was initially detained pending a murder investigation and later gave investigators a statement under caution.

After the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, police were directed to charge Arnold with manslaughter rather than murder.

Arnold’s attorney is now expected to pursue a bail application before the High Court.

The post Arlene Arnold denied bail in fatal pint bottle stabbing of common-law husband Clive Hendricks; Tells court she was punched several times to the head before attack appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.